Gillian Marchenko is the author of the memoirs Still Life, A Memoir of Living Fully with Depression, and Sun Shine Down, a book about her third child’s birth and diagnosis of Down syndrome while living in Kyiv, Ukraine. Gillian is a national speaker and advocate for individuals with mental illness and special needs. She has written for many publications including Literary Mama, Chicago Parent, Thriving Family, and Today’s Christian Woman. Gillian and her husband Sergei live with their four daughters near St. Louis, Missouri. Catch up with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Blog Posts by Gillian Marchenko

10 things teachers should know about Down syndrome It’s that time of year again. Backpacks are bought. New tennis shoes are donned. Back to school. It’s also time to educate our teachers on what they should know about Down syndrome. I…

Special needs and guilt management Guilt management and special needs – hard, hard, hard, hard, hard topic. For most parents, guilt is a big part of their lives, anyway. But for a lot of moms and dads who have children…

Depression is lonely. I know because I am lonely when I am in a major depressive episode. Saying that depression is lonely probably makes my husband sigh and people in my life cringe because they try to be there for…

Memoir 101, write a memoir worthy of publishing Guys, let me tell you about my new project! I am working on an online course called Memoir 101, write a memoir worthy of publishing. Do you have a story? Love…

Sometimes the praise is in the poop when it comes to depression. A few days ago, I posted a live video on Facebook about motherhood and depression… and then I fell into a pit of depression. Good times. Today I…

Hey everyone! For the next month, I am hosting a Goodreads Still Life Giveaway. Enter on Goodreads and perhaps you’ll get 1 of the 3 free copies! The giveaway opened today and goes through July 29th, so make sure you check it…